The Arbor Behavioral Healthcare and Dual Diagnosis Patients

When a mentally ill person suffers from an addiction, he or she may be in denial regarding their issues. The mental illness alters the perceptions and thoughts of the addict, making it more likely he or she will neglect their personal care. For example, a person who suffers from depression may believe their life has no value so they shouldn’t be saved, and the drugs or alcohol helps them to cope with the symptoms of their mental illness. For this reason, it can be difficult for the person to get their life on track, and the best way to do so is to ensure both the mental illness and addiction are treated at the same time. A dual diagnosis facility can be of great help with this.

Prevalence

It is estimated that four million Americans simultaneously suffer from an addiction and a mental illness. Sadly, of these individuals, it is believed that only four percent obtain help for both conditions. Those who do not address both find the risk of relapse increases significantly, as the underlying issues have not been fully handled. While sequential treatment is of help, simultaneous treatment has been shown to be a better option for individuals in this situation.

Treatment Options

Mental illnesses vary greatly in terms of their symptoms, A mood disorder differs from an eating disorder, and the facility must be ready to meet the needs of the patient based on their diagnosis. Furthermore, they need to look at the treatment options with regard to the addiction to find the right combination for the individual. A one-size-fits-all approach cannot be used when working with individuals with a dual diagnosis on account of the many types of mental illness recognized today.

Contact The Arbor Behavioral Healthcare to learn more about dual diagnosis treatment. Addressing both issues is critical as the addiction may be driven by the mental illness and many facilities aren’t equipped to handle a mentally ill person who is addicted to a drug or alcohol. They make it a requirement for the person to be sober before obtaining help for the mental illness. Times have thankfully changed and help is available. It’s simply a matter of knowing where to turn.